ABSTRACT
Background: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by progressive opticneuropathy, leading to irreversible damage to the optic nerve and loss of visual field. Glaucomais a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, with early detection being crucial forpreventing vision loss. Despite general awareness of the disease, detailed knowledgeandunderstanding remain limited among young adults in developing regions. Purpose: This studyaims to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of glaucoma among undergraduate studentsat the University of Benin, Nigeria. It seeks to identify common misconceptions, evaluatetheinfluence of demographic factors on glaucoma awareness, and determine the primary sourcesofinformation on the disease. Method: A descriptive cross- sectional survey was conductedamong450 undergraduate students using a structured, self-administered questionnaire that coveredsocio-demographic characteristics, sources of glaucoma information, specific knowledgeonglaucoma risk factors, detection methods, and common misconceptions. Data were analyzedusing SPSS version 25. Results: The analysis revealed that while 69.8%of respondents hadheard of glaucoma, only 19.6% correctly identified the optic nerve as the primary structureaffected. Significant differences in knowledge were observed across academic disciplines (p=0.024), with students in health- related fields demonstrating higher levels of understanding. Additionally, age (p = 0.032) and family history of glaucoma (p = 0.001) were significantlyassociated with improved knowledge, whereas gender was not a significant factor. Conclusion:The findings highlight a moderate general awareness of glaucoma among undergraduates but underscore critical gaps in detailed understanding and persistent misconceptions regardingthedisease. These results suggest the need for targeted educational interventions, integrationof eyehealth into academic curricula, and the active involvement of health professionals inpublichealth campaigns to enhance early detection and prevention of glaucoma. Keywords: Glaucoma, Awareness, Knowledge, Undergraduate Students, Nigeria, Eye Health
